DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION History 2009-2013 Phoenix Drug Kingpin Sentenced to 20 Years for Directing Criminal Enterprise In January 2009, the DEA Phoenix Field Division and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona announced the sentencing of drug kingpin Martin Angel Gonzalez. Martin Angel Gonzalez, 43, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for operating a large drug trafficking ring out of Phoenix. U.S. District Court Judge Stephen M. McNamee also imposed a $10 million monetary judgment against Gonzalez, who pled guilty to being the leader of a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana. Gonzalez was charged with various drug trafficking offenses as part of a 70-count superseding indictment related to his leader­ ship of a 12-year conspiracy involving the distribution of over 30,000 kilograms of marijuana worth more than $33 million. Twenty-five other co-conspirators were also charged and pled guilty for their involvement in the conspiracy. During the investigation, agents seized approximately 5,000 pounds of marijuana and more than $15 million in organization­ al assets. These assets included cash, investment accounts, bank accounts, vehicles, jewelry, and real estate properties. Gonzalez’s organization imported marijuana from Mexico, packaged it in the Phoenix area and distributed it to Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Califor­ nia. He distributed marijuana to his associates across the country using commercial trucks, cars and commercial shipping compa­ nies. Gonzalez was arrested in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, with the assistance of Mexican federal law enforcement authorities. He was extradited from Mexico to the United States in 2006. Miguel Caro-Quintero Extradition of Miguel Caro-Quintero (2009) Caro-Quintero took control of the family drug trafficking ­or ganization responsible for trafficking multi-ton quantities of co­ caine, heroin, and marijuana into the U.S. after the arrest and imprisonment of his brother, Rafael Caro-Quintero, who previ­ ously led the organization. Rafael Caro-Quintero and Miguel An­ gel Felix-Gallardo were the masterminds behind the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena in 1985.

153 History Federal and Local Law Enforcement Working Together in Connecticut In February 2009, the DEA Bridgeport, Connecticut Resident Office (BRO) received a call from the Danbury Police Department following the discovery of the body of Ed­ ward Rivera in a remote area of Danbury, CT. The BRO responded to Danbury and assisted with the investigation. As a result of the inves­ tigation by DEA, the Danbury Police Depart­ ment, and the U.S. Marshal Service, it was discovered that Rivera had been kidnapped from his address in Bronx, NY, robbed of 68 pounds of marijuana, murdered, and driven 60 miles to Danbury, where his body was dumped in a wooded area. The vehicle used to transport Rivera was found at a salvage yard in the Bronx. On March 1, 2009, the stolen marijuana was recovered in a wall trap in the bedroom of defendant Andrew Zayac. Zayac was later Operation Blade Runner convicted of the murder, kidnapping, and robbery of Rivera in federal court. Zayac’s co-defendant, Heriber­ Operation Blade Runner (2009) to Gonzalez, was convicted on drug charges, tampering with evi­ A traffic stop conducted by the Utah Highway Patrol in Salt dence, and obstruction of justice. From phone records obtained Lake City in February 2009 resulted in the seizure of 83 kilo­ during the investigation, a connection was made to a marijuana grams of cocaine. Law enforcement determined the cocaine was and steroid trafficking group in Danbury. A Title III investigation destined for a location in eastern Washington, where it was to was initiated with ties to the Bonnano Organized Crime Family have been loaded onto a helicopter in exchange for a load of and the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club. The operation resulted B.C. bud marijuana. When the helicopter touched down out­ in 12 federal arrests and the seizure of 200 pounds of marijuana, side of Lone, Washington, DEA was waiting. Samuel Lindsey- large quantities of steroids, and cash, vehicles, and real property Brown, 24, of Revelstoke, British Columbia, was arrested after totaling $750,000.00. he attempted to off-load 12 large duffel bags containing 426 pounds of marijuana. During the course of the investigation, a United States Reaches $1 Million Settlement with DEA Special Agent working undercover infiltrated the organi­ Kino Hospital in Tucson zation and arranged to receive 300 pounds of B.C. bud mari­ The DEA Tucson District Office announced a settlement with juana and to deliver 20 kilograms of cocaine to be smuggled Kino Hospital in Tucson, AZ in March 2009 stemming from an into Canada. audit and an investigation conducted after doses of controlled On March 5, 2009, the group attempted the exchange with substances were discovered missing from the hospital in early the undercover DEA Special Agent using a helicopter in North 2004. Kino Hospital committed to fund $1,000,000 over five Idaho. A Kelowna, British Columbia man landed the helicopter years to establish a three-prong drug abuse prevention initiative to in Northern Idaho and was arrested after unloading 174 pounds benefit the Tucson area community. of B.C. bud marijuana. One part of the campaign was designed to educate parents and Through information sharing between the U.S. and Canada, teachers of teenage students in southern Arizona on the signs and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) identified the land­ symptoms associated with the abuse of prescription drugs. The ing site in Canada. The RCMP arrested two men from Chilli­ education campaign was developed and implemented in southern wack, B.C. and seized 150 pounds of marijuana and approxi­ Arizona middle schools and high schools by the Pima County mately 40,000 ecstasy pills. Additional search warrants served in Department of Health. Nelson, Salmon Arm and Malakwa, B.C. resulted in the seizure of The second initiative financed by Pima County was for the six guns and two arrests. Together, DEA and the RCMP arrested development and operation of an arrestee drug usage data col­ nine subjects and seized over 750 pounds of marijuana, over 80 lection program. This program allowed Pima County to track kilograms of cocaine, six weapons, and two helicopters. trends in drug usage, providing data to aid in assessing the vi­ ability of treatment efforts, law enforcement tactics, and general 4-Star General Accompanies DEA crime analysis. In March 2009, General David McKiernan, the U.S. Com­ The final of the three programs was for the development and mander of all NATO and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, accompa­ operation of a drug treatment program to be implemented within nied DEA agents on a search warrant execution near Jalalabad, the Pima County jail system. The purpose of this program was Afghanistan. General McKiernan was the first 4-star General to to provide immediate access to drug treatment for Pima County accompany DEA agents in the field in Afghanistan. DEA FAST inmates on a voluntary basis. and DEA Kabul Country Office agents executed the operation

154 History

of his traditional operating zone. Ultimately, Alfonso Cano’s hideout was pinpointed and in the early morning hours of November 4, 2011, the Colombian Air Force bombed the location while hundreds of elite Colombian Army Special Forces troops descended from helicopters to surround the mountainside hideout. Alfonso Cano was killed in action as he tried to sneak through the Army Spe­ cial Forces security perimeter under cover of darkness dressed in civilian clothes. This event marks the only time in Colombia’s 48­ year fight against FARC that the Supreme Commander of the FARC was killed. Physician Accused of Multiple Crimes in Massive Prescription Drug Case In July 2009, the DEA Phoenix Field Di­ General David McKeirnan with DEA ASAC Selby Smith, who organized General McKiernan’s vision and the Arizona Attorney General’s participation on this operation. Office announced the filing of felony charges and the Maricopa County Superior Court’s and seized 900 kilograms of morphine. General McKiernan be­ issuance of a $10 million seizure warrant against a Nevada doc­ came a friend of DEA in Afghanistan and was instrumental in tor who allegedly wrote illegal drug prescriptions for patients at providing military assistance for DEA operations. a clinic he operated in Mohave County. He also allegedly col­ lected $3.5 million in fraudulent insurance claims, including DEA Aids Colombians Against the FARC $2.5 million from the State of Arizona. In June 2009, the DEA Bogota Country Office Narco-Ter­ The 14 felony counts against Dr. Albert Szu Sun Yeh, 44, of Las rorism Group began assisting the Cuerpo Tecnico de Investigations Vegas, included conspiracy, assisting a criminal syndicate, money (CTI), the Colombian judicial investigative branch, and the Co­ laundering and improperly administering narcotic drugs. In a lombian Army in their manhunt to capture indicted FARC Su­ separate indictment, seven felony counts were filed against Dr. preme Commander Guillermo Leon Saenz Vargas a.k.a. Alfonso Yeh’s physician assistant, Bryan V. Espinosa, 54, of Henderson, Cano. Though he had been a DEA target for some time, it was Nevada. Alfonso Cano’s 2009 rise to the supreme leadership position, that Dr. Yeh, who was licensed to practice in both Nevada and Ari­ made him DEA’s number one FARC target. zona, maintained a practice in Las Vegas and saw Arizona patients For two years DEA and other U.S. Government agencies, only on Tuesdays at his Pain Wellness Center in Golden Valley, along with elements of Colombian Military Intelligence, Co­ Ariz., a town with a population of about 5,000 near Kingman. He lombian Army Special Forces, CTI, and the Colombian Na­ would typically write more than 100 prescriptions each Tuesday tional Police pursued and targeted Alfonso Cano in a sustained the center was open. The warrant served during the operation led series of intelligence driven military offensives. Dubbed Opera­ to the seizure of $3.9 million in multiple bank accounts, invest­ tion Odyssey, the offensive was designed to systematically attack ment accounts, real estate and other property belonging to Dr. Alfonso Cano’s security and logistical support to push him out Yeh.

DEA SAC Elizabeth W. Kempshall with Arizona Police Chiefs. Dr. Yeh’s Pain Wellness Center in Arizona. 155 History

DEA remembers three fallen agents in Afghanistan. DEA Loses Three Heroes in the Line of Duty DEA Reopens Country Office in Uzbekistan On October 26, 2009, three DEA special agents and seven Given the need to address the Afghan drug trade and Uzbeki­ U.S. military service members tragically lost their lives during op­ stan’s increased efforts to address counter-narcotic issues, the erations in western Afghanistan. Government of Uzbekistan accredited DEA special agents to the During the early morning hours of Monday, October 26, U.S. Mission in Tashkent, and in October 2009, DEA formally 2009, SAs Michael E. Weston, Forrest N. Leamon, Chad L. Mi­ re-opened the Tashkent Country Office. chael, other DEA SAs, U.S. Special Forces, and Afghan military In recognition of this new era of bilateral cooperation, then counterparts, were executing Afghan search warrants at a bazaar DEA Assistant Administrator and Chief of Intelligence, Anthony in Afghanistan’s rugged Badghis province. This bazaar was a safe Placido, traveled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan to attend meetings with haven for insurgents and contained significant quantities of nar­ high-ranking Uzbek officials. Afterwards, U.S. Ambassador Rich­ cotics, improvised explosive devices, and weapons used against ard Norland held a reception in honor of Mr. Placido’s visit. Dis­ Coalition Forces. This operation supported the Government of tinguished Uzbek guests included the Chairman of the National Afghanistan’s Rule of Law efforts to disrupt the material support Security Service, the Minister of the Interior, the Chairman of the of the Taliban by drug traffickers in western Afghanistan. State Customs Committee, the General Prosecutor, and the first After a successful counter narcotics/counter insurgency opera­ Deputy Foreign Minister. tion, (which included an hour-long firefight with insurgents), the DEA agents, U.S. military personnel, and Afghan counterparts Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey were departing the target area on a U.S. military helicopter when Over 9,000 pounds of medicine, with a street value of over it crashed, killing SA Weston, SA Leamon, SA Michael, and seven $35 million, was collected during Operation Medicine Cabinet U.S. Special Forces personnel. New Jersey in November 2009. This was a first in the statewide The crash also injured 26 other personnel, including DEA day of disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine. This Group Supervisor Patrick McDarby. GS McDarby received nu­ statewide effort was spearheaded by the DEA New Jersey Divi­ merous injuries during the incident but continued to assist with sion and the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) extracting injured personnel out of the crashed helicopter. All of with support from many other local and statewide prevention and the injured and deceased were recovered from the crash site and enforcement organizations. returned to base. More than 440 local police departments and sheriff depart­ ments across all of New Jersey’s 21 counties hosted collection sites, OCDETF Strike Force Opens in Phoenix where New Jersey residents came out in force to rid their homes of On October 1, 2009, Deputy Attorney General David W. Og­ unused, unwanted, and expired medicines. den, along with U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke, Acting Director Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey accomplished two of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Kenneth Melson, goals—first and foremost, it generated unprecedented attention Drug Enforcement Administration Deputy Chief of Operations to the issue of prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse, Dave Gaddis, and other federal and local officials unveiled the and secondly, it caused tens of thousands of New Jersey residents new Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) to look at their medicine cabinets as a potential source for young Strike Force site in Phoenix, AZ. people to access highly addictive and potentially deadly drugs.

156 History

Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey evolved into the nation­ wide program entitled National Take Back Initiative.

Compton’s Prescription Drug Diversion Investigation In 2009, the DEA Oklahoma City Diversion Group received intelligence that a group of individuals were involved in trafficking oxycodone in Norman, OK. A prominent businessman, Stephan Compton, his wife, their three sons and others were involved in the drug trafficking activities. In October 2009, a wire intercept was initiated on two of the Compton’s cellular telephone lines. As part of the scheme, the Comptons used others to acquire oxycodone tablets for them through scheduled doctors’ appoint­ ments where prescriptions were obtained. The individuals were paid by the Comptons in exchange for the oxycodone tablets and were even driven to their doctors appointments and pharmacies to fill the prescriptions. Once obtained, the oxycodone tablets were On January 18, 2008, CPOT Craig Petties (left) arrived in Memphis via stored at various locations in Norman and Noble, OK. DEA aircraft, escorted by Memphis RO TFO Therman Richardson (right). In December 2009, six search warrants were executed and 42 individuals were arrested in a coordinated takedown of the supplied with cocaine by CPOT Arturo Beltran-Leyva and his Comptons illegal pill distribution organization. As a result of the associate, Edgar “La Barbie” Valdez. The Petties DTO was an enforcement action, another investigation into the physicians extremely violent organization that operated in the Memphis who supplied the Compton organization was immediately initi­ area for several years and was responsible for at least five homi­ ated. In March 2012, in the U.S. District Court, Western District cides. The Petties DTO was also responsible for the importation of Oklahoma, one of the main source physicians, Amar N. Bhan­ of thousands of kilograms of cocaine over several years and was dary, was indicted on 53 counts of knowingly and intentionally widely regarded as the largest cocaine source of supply in the distributing and dispensing controlled substances. On April 26, Memphis area. This violent organization was a major criminal 2012, Bhandary was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany by German enterprise with activities ranging from purchasing cocaine from authorities. CPOT targets in Mexico, to street level trafficking in Memphis and elsewhere. Due to their connections with the Sinaloa Cartel, DEA Detroit Takes Out Adarus Mazio Black the prices the Petties organization paid for cocaine were far be­ In December 2009, DEA Detroit Field Division Task Force low the amount paid by other groups in Memphis. This organi­ Group Eight concluded a five-year complex drug homicide in­ zation also provided weapons to the Beltran-Leyva organization vestigation, which ended the reign of Adarus Mazio Black. The in Mexico. investigation had begun in August 2004 after the bodies of two In January 2008, Petties was arrested in Queretaro, Mexico Mexican drug traffickers were found in a Detroit back alley. It by units of the Mexican military. All of the significant members was later determined the Mexican drug traffickers were killed at of this group were indicted in U.S. District Court in Memphis, the direction of Black after he became aware they were attempt­ with six members indicted in a Racketeering Influenced and Cor­ ing to establish a competing cocaine and marijuana distribution rupt Organization (RICO) case. In December of 2009, Petties network in Detroit. In March 2005, Group Eight linked Black pled guilty to an indictment that included the RICO charge, five to the murder of a federal government witness who was prepar­ counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering activity and to sever­ ing to testify against Detroit-based drug dealers, including Black. al drug and money laundering charges. All members of the Petties The federal witness was shot in the head at point blank range as DTO pled guilty or were found guilty on various federal charges he left his luxury car rental business. In May 2007, Group Eight in the Western District of Tennessee. linked Black to the brutal slaying of two charter bus drivers who were murdered before they could cooperate and speak about their Project Coronado involvement in the seizure of $4.2 million in bulk currency linked In October 2009, DEA announced the successful culmination to Black. The bus drivers were shot multiple times in the head of Project Coronado, a 44-month multi-agency law enforcement after they were lured back to Detroit. investigation targeting the La Familia Michoacana drug cartel. Group Eight built a drug conspiracy and a CCE case against The effort was the largest single U.S. strike against Mexican drug Black. On May 29, 2009, Black was convicted of conspiracy to cartels to date. Over the course of two days, 303 individuals in 19 distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, continuing states were arrested in a series of takedowns by federal, state, and a criminal enterprise, escape, and obstruction of justice. On De­ local law enforcement. More than 3,000 agents and officers oper­ cember 14, 2009, Black was sentenced to life in prison. ated across the United States to make the arrests during the two- day takedown; 62 kilograms of cocaine, 729 pounds of metham­ They’re Guilty: Memphis Resident Office Concludes phetamine, 967 pounds of marijuana, 144 weapons, 109 vehicles, Racketeering Investigation and 2 clandestine drug labs were also seized. Craig Petties was the head of a major Drug Trafficking Orga­ In total, Project Coronado led to the arrest more than 1,180 nization (DTO) based in Memphis, TN. The Petties DTO was individuals and the seizure of approximately $33 million in U.S.

157 History

currency, 1,999 kilograms of cocaine, 2,730 pounds of metham­ DEA Announces Arrest of Top La Familia Cartel phetamine, 29 pounds of heroin, 16,390 pounds of marijuana, Member 389 weapons, 269 vehicles, and two clandestine drug labs. Then On August 3, 2009, DEA announced the arrest of Miguel An­ DEA Acting Administrator Leonhart said at the culmination of gel Berraza Villa, a key member of La Familia Michoacana and one Project Coronado, “This organization, La Familia, the newest of of Mexico’s most ruthless and violent drug cartels. Mexican police Mexican cartels, is directly responsible for a vast majority of the had detained Berraza, a.k.a. “La Troca” and Salomon Figueroa- methamphetamine pouring into our country across our South­ Harrison, a cartel associate, in Apatzingan, Michoacan, Mexico. west Border, and has had a hand in fueling the cycle of violence La Troca was identified as a significant meth trafficker based that is wracking Mexico today.” in Apatzingan, Michoacan. DEA and Mexican law enforcement officials had identified him as the individual who took over the Operation Heavy Cargo cartel duties after Arnoldo Rueda Medina, a.k.a. “La Minsa,” was DEA Operation Heavy Cargo, which targeted a drug traffick­ arrested in late July by the Secretaria de Seguridad Publica. ing organization using commercial aircraft to transport cocaine to the United States, concluded in September 2009. This DTO be­ New Rules Governing Internet Pharmacies Go Into gan operating in or about 1999 and was responsible for smuggling Effect over $19 million worth of cocaine into the United States. The In April 2009, DEA released new regulations implementing operation revealed that employees of American Airlines would the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of ensure suitcases loaded with kilograms of cocaine were smuggled 2008. These regulations helped to prevent the illegal diversion onto American Airlines aircraft and transported to different cities of powerful controlled substances by means of the Internet. The in the U.S. Twenty-three airline employees were arrested in Puerto Ryan Haight Act, named for an 18-year-old who died after over­ Rico and Miami, with $18 million in property seized throughout dosing on a prescription painkiller he obtained on the Internet Puerto Rico. from a medical doctor he never saw, was enacted on October 15, 2008 through the joint efforts of his mother, Francine Haight, Operation Xcellerator and members of Congress, with the support of the DEA. Operation Xcellerator, which culminated in February 2009, The statute amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by targeted the very violent and dangerously powerful Sinaloa adding several new provisions: drug cartel and led to the arrest of more than 750 individu­ • New definitions, such as “online pharmacy” and “deliver, als on narcotics-related charges. More than 23 tons of narcot­ distribute, or dispense by means of the Internet;” ics were seized as part of this 21-month multi-agency law en­ • A requirement of at least one face-to-face patient medi­ forcement investigation. Individuals indicted in the operation cal evaluation prior to issuance of a controlled substance were charged with a variety of crimes, including engaging in a prescription; continuing criminal enterprise by violating various felony provi­ • Registration requirements for online pharmacies; sions of the Controlled Substances Act, conspiracy to import • Internet pharmacy website disclosure information re­ controlled substances, money laundering, and possession of un­ quirements; and registered firearms. • Prescription reporting requirements for online pharma­ Operation Xcellerator led to the arrest of 755 individuals and cies. the seizure of approximately $59.1 million in U.S. currency, more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine, more than 16,000 pounds of Associate of International Arms Dealer Monzer Al marijuana, more than 1,200 pounds of methamphetamine, more Kassar Found Guilty than eight kilograms of heroin, approximately 1.3 million pills of On March 18, 2009 Tareq Mousa Al Ghazi, 62, an associate of ecstasy, more than $6.5 million in other assets, 149 vehicles, three international arms dealer Monzer Al Kassar, was found guilty of aircraft, three maritime vessels, and 169 weapons. charges relating to a conspiracy to sell millions of dollars’ worth of weapons to the FARC—a designated foreign terrorist organiza­ Global Operation Targets Illegal Importation of tion—that would be used to kill U.S. officers and employees in Pharmaceuticals Colombia. In November 2009, DEA, along with the National Intellec­ Between February 2006 and June 2007, Al Ghazi and Al tual Property Rights Coordination Center, part of U.S. Immigra­ Kassar agreed to sell thousands of machine guns, millions of tion and Customs Enforcement, coordinated the involvement of rounds of ammunition, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and agents and officers from DEA, ICE, the U.S. Customs and Bor­ surface-to-air missile systems to the FARC. During a series of der Protection, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. recorded telephone calls, e-mails, and in-person meetings, Al Postal Inspection Service and arrested numerous suspects involved Ghazi and Al Kassar agreed to sell the weapons to two individu­ in Internet sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines. als who were in fact confidential sources working with DEA. Agents and officers targeted over 7,000 suspect packages at The confidential sources represented that they were acquiring international mail centers resulting in 724 packages being de­ these weapons for the FARC to use in attacks directed at U.S. tained for further examination and seizure. In addition to these helicopters in Colombia. examinations, the FDA issued 22 warning letters about illegal activity occurring on 136 independent websites. To date, 90 of DEA Launches New Educational Website for Parents those websites or domain names have been permanently sus­ In February 2009, DEA launched a new educational website pended. for parents, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com. The website was

158 History

DEA Chiefs of Intelligence developed as a resource for parents and caregivers to help them identify drug abuse, prevent children from using drugs, and find resources for substance abuse prevention. The site was designed to speak to parents and caregivers of middle school, high school, and col­ lege-age children in an informative and non-technical manner. Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart stated, “DEA wants to share our knowledge about drugs with parents, teachers, and all those who care about keeping our children safe. In this fight, information is power, and DEA’s new website has current, accurate, and practical information about how to spot signs of abuse, identify drugs and paraphernalia, and how to talk to teens about drugs. With just a few clicks par­ ents will be confident and ready to help their kids re­ sist drugs.” DEA Chiefs of Intelligence Testify on Capitol Hill Over the past five years, DEA Chiefs of Intelligence Anthony Placido and Rodney Benson had many op­ portunities to testify in front of the U.S. legislature, highlighting the fact that the DEA intelligence pro­ gram has been relied upon by U.S. lawmakers in com- batting both domestic and foreign law enforcement issues. These numerous examples of being called on to testify for lawmakers included testimony by Chief of Intelligence Placido on March 17, 2009 regard­ ing “Law Enforcement Responses to Mexican Drug Cartels” as well as testimony by Chief of Intelligence Benson on October 4, 2010 regarding “Is Merida An­ tiquated? Part Two: Updating U.S. Policy to Counter Threats of Insurgency and Narco-Terrorism.” Operation Vaqueros (2010) On April 27, 2010, the DEA Sierra Vista Resident Office along with other federal, state, and local of­ Methods of Concealment ficials, announced arrests and charges against a Mexi­ can drug trafficking organization responsible for moving at least Seven federal wiretaps approved in the OCDETF investiga­ 40,000 pounds of marijuana through southern Arizona. The DTO tion, dubbed Operation Vaqueros for the “Cowboy” attire worn employed advanced counter-surveillance, ramp trucks to overcome by members of the DTO, were unsealed by order of the U.S. Dis­ vehicle barriers at the border, and hidden vehicle compartments. trict Court. Twelve people were indicted on federal conspiracy

159 History

charges. In the course of the investigation, 26 people were indicted on federal charges, and 13 on state charges. The 36-month investigation yielded 39 state and federal indictments, and 34 ar­ rests, including one employee of the Cochise County Attorney’s Office who was arrested on state charges for providing confidential information to one of the drug traffickers in exchange for money. The remaining 27 de­ fendants were load drivers for the trafficking organization and were prosecuted for drug trafficking charges in federal and state courts. Baltimore’s Black Guerilla Family Between April 2008 and July 2010, mem­ bers of DEA Baltimore District Office Group 57, the office’s Special Investigations Group, joined with the Baltimore Police Depart­ ment, the Maryland Division of Corrections, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Baltimore City Attorney’s Office to attack a violent nationwide prison Operation Tormenta del Manglar gang known as the Black Guerilla Family (BGF). BGF conducted its affairs through a pattern of criminal seizure of a clandestinely constructed, fully operational submarine activity including narcotics trafficking, robbery, extortion, bribery, built to facilitate drug trafficking. retaliation against a witness or informant, money laundering, and The “Hunt for Red October,” as it was called by Special Agents commercial robbery. BGF members used violence and threats of in the Quito Country Office, had begun in early 2010, when violence to coerce incarcerated persons to pay protection money the DEA Cartagena Resident Office provided information to the to BGF, to enforce the BGF code of conduct, and to increase their Quito Country Office about a Colombian drug trafficking orga­ control of the Baltimore City drug trade and the underground nization constructing a submarine. It was believed the submarine “prison economy” throughout Maryland correctional facilities. was being built in the area north of San Lorenzo, Ecuador along Group 57 linked the drug trafficking activity of this violent the Ecuador-Colombia border. prison gang to the international CPOT organization of Beltran- The Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) was not discour­ Leyva during DEA’s Operation Xcellerator. A total of 24 phones aged by the seizure and immediately started to plan the construc­ were intercepted throughout all three phases of the Title III inves­ tion of a replacement submarine in Colombia. With the members tigation. The Investigators and Intelligence Analysts supporting of the organization identified and their meeting locations under the investigation uncovered an emerging money laundering tech­ surveillance around the clock, DEA’s Colombian counterparts nique when BGF members used Greendot prepaid debit cards to were able to determine the new location where the second subma­ launder the proceeds of their illegal activities. rine was being constructed. After completing the second subma­ The case netted 47 federal/state arrests, and the seizure of more rine, a specialized tactical unit of the Colombian Navy executed than 43 kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, cash, assets, an operation that led to the seizure of the second fully constructed firearms, and ballistic vests. Working in concert with the Mary­ submarine, 3,000 kilograms of cocaine, two cocaine laboratories land Division of Corrections, cellular telephones, weapons, and a belonging to the DTO, and several firearms. variety of narcotics and prison contraband were confiscated. Dur­ With the seizure of the second submarine, the Cartagena Resi­ ing the course of the investigation, Group 57 identified and ar­ dent Office and the Miami Field Division began the process of rested several corrupt prison employees who worked directly with indicting 22 members of the DTO. Colombian law enforcement the BGF. arrested 21 of the DTO members with the intention of extra­ diting them to the U.S. During this time frame, the Cartagena Operation Tormenta del Manglar (2010) Resident Office learned the DTO was building a third submarine. On July 2, 2010, the DEA Quito Country Office and the Ec­ The Bogota Country Office received separate information from a uadorian National Police Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU) coor­ source regarding the location of the third submarine under con­ dinated a search operation in the San Lorenzo, Ecuador area to struction. The third submarine was discovered and destroyed by locate a fully submersible vessel under construction in a remote the Colombian National Police Jungla Unit and Agents from the mangrove swamp (manglar) region between San Lorenzo, Ecua­ Bogota Country Office. dor and the Ecuador-Colombian border. The search resulted in the seizure of a 74 foot long camouflaged, painted, fully function­ DEA Oakland’s Operation Burnout (2010) ing submarine. This effort was dubbed Operation Tormenta del Since the 1980’s, the Burn Out Family Mafia gang had dis­ Manglar by the Ecuadorian National Police SIU and was the first tributed at least two kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of

160 History cocaine per month in East Oakland, California, and were also members who had valid pharmacy licenses. DEA’s audits of Ideal involved in assault, murder, and illegal credit card activity. The Pharmacy between 2006 and 2010 found significant unaccount­ DEA Oakland Resident Office and the Oakland Police Depart­ ed shortages of the drugs hydrocodone, alprazolam (Xanax), and ment began this investigation in 2010. The gang proved to be a promethazine with codeine. The street value of the thousands of violent organization, terrorizing citizens through fear and intim­ missing dosage units from the audits totaled approximately $4.4 idation, and the unfolding case included high-speed car chases, to $5.9 million. shoot-outs with police and rival gang members, fraud, and drug During the round-up, Agents seized two firearms, approxi­ trafficking. mately $60,000 in U.S. currency and financial instruments, 12 On June 28, 2010, Agents from DEA’s Oakland Resident Of­ computers, a money counter, numerous smart phones and thumb fice, along with numerous federal, state, and local law enforce­ drives, three vehicles, 30 residential properties, approximately ment agencies arrested 20 individuals, resulting in the dismantle­ 90,000 non-controlled tablets, approximately 5,000 controlled ment of the Burn Out Family Mafia gang. substance tablets, 22 pints of promethazine with codeine (found DEA conducted judicial intercepts which led to the identifi­ in a floor trap), and approximately 17 bank accounts valued at cation of the primary gang leaders and their participation in drug activity, violence, and illegal credit card activities. Additionally, Agents gathered information regarding four cold-case shootings and cold-case homicides that were provided to the Oakland Police Department for further investigation. Agents intercepted calls that linked defendants to shootings targeting rival gang members. This 24-month SOD-supported PTO in­ vestigation resulted in the arrest of 94 indi­ viduals on various state and federal charges and the seizure of 23 guns, $10,000 in U.S. currency, and four fraudulent credit card manufacturing systems linked to the Ukraine and Russia, with thousands of U.S. victims. Undercover and informant-based drug buys conducted during the course of the investiga­ tion also contributed to the federal drug in­ dictments. DEA New Orleans Targets Ideal Pharmacy (2010) Members of DEA New Orleans Tactical This casket was found at a location being used by the DTO to package drugs to ship all around the Diversion Squad Group 14, along with coun­ country; the TDS group has not been able to determine why the casket was there. terparts from DEA’s Atlanta, Caribbean, San Diego, and Seattle Field Divisions, as well as state and local counterparts, assisted in the ex­ ecution of five state arrest warrants and nine state search warrants for members of a drug trafficking organization headed by Carlton Charles in May 2010. The DTO bought and sold large quantities of drugs and distributed the drugs without valid prescriptions in New Orleans and throughout the United States through multiple rogue Internet pharmacy fronts. TDS Group 14 targeted the illegal drug distribution operations of the Ideal Pharmacy Care, Inc., Esplanade Pharmacy, a brick and mortar location in New Orleans, and Web Marketing Services, also of New Orleans. The DTO head was Carlton Charles, whose pharmacy license was revoked by the State of Louisiana, but who had put the various Diversion Investigator Rita Esquivel-Blatt assists with the seizure of narcotics from one of the search businesses in the names of friends and family warrant locations. 161 History

Above and right: During the execution of a search warrant, agents discovered a closet. Inside were several boxes of drugs. After removing the drugs, Agents discovered a trap door in the floor covering a storage space containing boxes of pint size bottles of pro­ methazine with codeine.

approximately $3 million. The subjects arrested were charged Division led a three-pronged approach of education, legislation, with criminal offenses including money laundering, racketeering and enforcement to tackle the increase in pill mills. Intelligence conspiracy, and multiple crimes involving controlled substances, Analysts collected and implemented shared databases to identify including drug distribution near a school. the brokers behind the clinics. Presentations to law enforcement, legislators, healthcare professionals, and local citizens resulted in Indictment of the “American Drug Lord” greater awareness and response. In August 2010, DEA’s Atlanta Field Division culminated a Some local counties and their citizens responded with mora­ multi-agency OCDETF, RPOT, and CPOT investigation code toriums against pain clinics in their neighborhoods. Legislation named Operation Multiplicity with the arrest of American citi­ was passed in Georgia to implement a Prescription Drug Moni­ zen turned violent Mexican drug lord Edgar Valdez-Villareal in toring Program. Additional legislation was passed placing specific Mexico. Valdez-Villareal was known as “La Barbie” for his good requirements on pain clinics and their owners. Laws in Georgia looks. Until his capture, “La Barbie” was one of the most ruthless regarding Schedule II prescriptions increased the requirements to drug traffickers in Mexico, working for the Arturo Beltran-Leyva prevent forgery and abuse. The TDS quickly targeted the most drug trafficking organization as a top enforcer. His rise and fall egregious clinics that opened in the Atlanta area. Many quickly as a drug lord was documented in the September 2011 issue of closed their doors and moved away. Some stayed and have since Rolling Stone magazine. In addition to La Barbie’s arrest, this in­ been served with Immediate Orders to Show Cause actions, search vestigation resulted in the indictment of 21 additional co-conspir­ warrants, administrative warrants, and some were arrested. ators, several of whom were sentenced to over 30 years in prison, as well as the seizure of over $7,000,000.00 in U.S. currency and Operation Four Horsemen (2010) 187 kilograms of cocaine. In the first decade of the new millennium, Atlanta became a major command and control location for major Mexican drug Fighting Pill Mills in Georgia trafficking organizations. Atlanta’s strategic location within the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division saw the writing on the wall when southeastern part of the United States and its role as a com­ Florida became the nation’s hot spot for the illegal distribution mercial and banking center for the south permitted legitimate of prescription pills. Anticipating the passage of stricter Florida businesses to thrive. Simultaneously, the increase in Hispanic legislation targeting the indiscriminate distribution of highly ad­ population in the southeast (both legal and illegal) allowed dictive narcotics, the Atlanta Field Division recognized the four Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) to blend into the econ­ state region, and specifically Georgia, would be the next battle­ omy and accelerated the rise of Mexican organizations as the ground. primary distributors of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, DEA Atlanta took a multi-disciplined approach coordinating and heroin. Diversion, Intelligence, and Enforcement to prepare for an in­ As a result of the increasing presence of Mexican DTO com­ flux of “Pill Mills.” The Atlanta Division then stood up a Tacti­ mand and control functions, the Atlanta Divisional Office initi­ cal Diversion Squad, proactively coordinating with state and local ated OCDETF Operation Four Horsemen, which identified and agencies and licensure boards to develop an attack plan. Consis­ targeted an importation, transportation, and distribution DTO tent with cooperation at the state, and local levels, the Atlanta that spanned multiple states, and reported to three high rank­

162 History

of dollars in United States currency back to Mexico by concealing the money in tractor trailers and other vehicles. The investigation, which culminated in August 2010, resulted in the total seizure of 973 kilograms of cocaine, 1,445 kilograms of marijuana, and over $31 million in drug proceeds. Additionally, 24 individuals in the Northern District of Georgia, as well as 34 persons in the Southern District of Texas, were indicted and arrested. This investigation included over 100 federal court authorized wire intercepts initiated by DEA agents in the Northern District of Georgia. Advertising for Traffickers In 2010, a radio advertisement on a local Wilmington, North Carolina Hispanic radio station resulted in the recruitment of a well- 8.9 Million dollars seized in December 2008 during “Operation Four Horsemen.” Pictured above placed source into the Enrique Mendoza- from left to right, front row: IA Pierre Mangones, TFO Mike Johnson, SA Denise Garcia, TFO Figueroa drug trafficking organization. The Mike Blevins, SA Mark Hadaway, SA Tom Jackson, GS David Stephens. Back row: SA Brian investigation quickly expanded to a Priority Shields, TFO Alex Scott, SA Darren Krawczyk, SA Ralph Lorio, and SA Shacy Frye. Target and CPOT-linked investigation uti­ lizing federal wire intercepts and extensive confidential source and undercover activity. This case was the focus of the DEA Wilming­ ton Resident Office in 2011 and represented how a high-level domestic trafficking orga­ nization impacts multiple DEA divisions. The investigation resulted in the seizure of $9,744,997.00, 134 kilograms of cocaine, 5,883 pounds of marijuana, 13 pounds of methamphetamine, 14 firearms and 31 ar­ rests including the July 2012 arrest of drug trafficking organization leader Enrique Men­ doza-Figueroa. Art Imitates Life in Baltimore Ask most Baltimore-based DEA agents what it’s like to work in Baltimore, and the answer is usually, “Watch The Wire.” The ­po lice work, the dope dealers, and the politics are as close to real-life Baltimore as you can get. In August 2010, DEA Baltimore’s Group Baltimore District Office’s Special Agent Edward Marcinko (left) and Hagerstown Resident Office 52 (Heroin Task Force) was approached by Task Force Officer Guy McCartney (right) lead Felicia “Snoop” Pearson from her residence, follow­ the Baltimore Police Department along with ing Pearson’s 2011 arrest on drug conspiracy charges. Pearson was already “famous” for her role as the State and U.S. Attorney’s Offices with a an enforcer in the television series, “The Wire.” request to join forces against drug traffickers ing members of the Mexico based Hector Beltran-Leyva (HBL) Dana Bowman, Donald “AZ” Wright, and Shawn Johnson. These Cartel, a designated CPOT. The investigation revealed Atlanta, three individuals were initially identified as partners in a poly­ Georgia was the primary distribution point for the organization, drug organization supplying heroin, cocaine, crack, and marijua­ with additional connections to McAllen, Texas; San Antonio, na throughout the city’s Eastern District. Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Ra­ Group 52 agents began intercepting the first of what would be leigh, North Carolina. The investigation identified two primary 16 cellular lines belonging to members of the Drug Trafficking cells operating in Atlanta, Georgia and Laredo, Texas that oper­ Organizations (DTOs) in October 2010. As expected, dozens of ated in a similar fashion, receiving multi-kilogram shipments of buyers, sellers, and suppliers were identified from the inner city cocaine that arrived in tractor trailers from Mexico. After the drug of Baltimore, to New York where the DTO’s heroin and cocaine traffickers received their cocaine shipments, they shipped millions sources were, to San Diego where the high-grade marijuana origi­

163 History

nated. The group included Dominican sup­ pliers, Mexican traffickers, local targets of the U.S. Attorney’s Violent Repeat Offender program, thugs, hookers, and people from all walks of life. However, no one attracted as much attention as one caller, known on the phone as “Doggie,” who was eventually iden­ tified as Felicia “Snoop” Pearson. Of particular note to the investigators were Pearson’s discussions about warehousing drugs for the DTO. In another turn, when a DTO member was kidnapped and held for ransom, the kidnappers were directed to Pear­ son’s home to get the payment. Pearson had been involved in violent drug-related conduct in the past and was previously sentenced to state prison for murder. After her release, she became one of the “stars” on The Wire, where she played the role of someone involved in drug dealing and as “an enforcer.” The pro­ ducers of The Wire obtained the services of Pseudoephedrine smurfing resulted in the largest fine in CSA history. Baltimore area drug dealers as actors and “technical advisers.” In March 2011, the wiretaps ended with the execution of 49 retail pharmacies, allowed customers to make repeated purchases search warrants. More than 500 law enforcement officers par­ of pseudoephedrine that exceeded federal daily and monthly sales ticipated in the warrant executions and the arrests of the more limits. For more than a year, CVS failed to change its sales prac­ than 70 people indicted on federal and state charges. Guns, her­ tices to prevent criminals from purchasing excessive amounts of oin, marijuana, and crack were seized. Assets totaling more than pseudoephedrine at its stores. $200,000 were forfeited. The media showed up at only one loca­ CVS Pharmacy, a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corporation, tion, for the arrest of a solitary female—Felicia Pearson. To listen failed to ensure compliance with laws limiting sales of pseudo- to the reports, Pearson was the most important member of the ephedrine, which allowed criminals to obtain a key ingredient DTO. In fact, while every federal and state defendant pled guilty used in the manufacture of methamphetamine from CVS stores or was found guilty in trial, the only person’s plea and sentencing located primarily in Los Angeles County; Orange County, Cali­ that was covered live by any news source was Pearson’s. fornia; and Clark County, Nevada. Between September 2007 and November 2008, CVS supplied large amounts of pseudoephed­ Targeting a Mexican DTO in South Carolina rine to methamphetamine traffickers in Southern California, and In August of 2010, DEA’s Columbia District Office com­ the company’s illegal sales led directly to an increase in metham­ menced an investigation focusing on a multi-ton marijuana im­ phetamine production in California. portation organization based in Columbia, SC. The group was di­ The investigation into CVS uncovered thousands of viola­ rectly linked to the La Familia cartel and maintained tight contact tions of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, with Mexican organizers. Over 8,000 pounds of marijuana were which limits the amount of pseudoephedrine that a customer can tied to this organization. The Columbia District Office monitored purchase in one day. In 2007, CVS implemented an automated two warehouses via court authorized audio and video surveillance electronic logbook system to record individual pseudoephedrine orders and numerous pen registers. This marked the first time the sales, but the system did not prevent multiple purchases by an office had utilized closed circuit cameras as part of a Title III in­ individual customer on the same day. CVS eventually changed vestigation in the United States District Court of South Carolina. its sales practices to prevent these illegal sales, but only after it The investigation completely dismantled the organization, culmi­ became aware of the government’s investigation. nating in the arrests of 15 individuals, the seizure of $1.2 million CVS agreed to pay a $75 million civil penalty, and agreed to in bulk currency, and the seizure of 5,500 pounds of marijuana forfeit the remaining $2.6 million in profits. The $75 million por­ and 3,922 ecstasy tablets. tion of the settlement represents the largest civil penalty ever paid under the Controlled Substances Act. In addition, CVS entered DEA Investigation of CVS Results in Largest Fine in into a separate five-year compliance agreement with DEA. CSA History After Mexico banned the sale of pseudoephedrine in mid­ Aaron Jenkins Drug Trafficking Organization 2007, Los Angeles and Las Vegas experienced an epidemic of In December 2010, DEA Laredo District Office Group D-73 “smurfing,” a practice where individuals make multiple purchases initiated a case against the Aaron Jenkins drug trafficking organi­ of pseudoephedrine in small amounts with the intent to aggregate zation, which consisted of previously convicted felons distributing the purchases for use in the illegal production of methamphet­ marijuana and cocaine and return drug proceeds back to Mexican amine. Smurfers discovered that CVS, unlike other large chain drug cartels.

164 History Project Deliverance (2010) In June 2010, DEA announced the culmination of Project De­ liverance, a 22-month investigation targeting the transportation infrastructure of Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the United States, especially along the Southwest border. The day be­ fore the announcement, 429 of the 2,266 total arrests took place across 16 states through coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement. During the enforcement action, $5.8 million, 17 pounds of methamphetamine, 112 kilograms of cocaine, 2,951 pounds of marijuana, 141 weapons, and 85 vehicles were seized. In addi­ tion to 2,266 total arrests, Project Deliverance led to the seizure of $154 million, 1,262 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.5 tons of cocaine, 1,410 pounds of heroin, 69 tons of marijuana, 501 weapons, and 527 vehicles over the course of the operation. Act­ ing Administrator Leonhart stated, “Project Deliverance inflict­ ed a debilitating blow to the network of shadow facilitators and transportation cells controlled by the major Mexican drug cartels. The stakes are extraordinarily high, and this massive operation is a milestone in our tireless assault on these violent drug cartels.” Above and below: Aaron Jenkins drug trafficking organization. Controlling Synthetic Marijuana Beginning in 2009, DEA received an increasing number of reports from poison centers, hospitals, and law enforcement re­ garding these products. The products had been marketed as “le­ gal” smokeable herbal blends providing a marijuana-like high. The products consisted of plant material coated with research chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and were sold at a variety of retail outlets, in head shops, and over the Internet. These chemicals, however, are not approved by the FDA for human consumption, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process. Brands such as “Spice,” “K2,” “Blaze,” and “Red X Dawn” had been labeled as incense to mask their intended purpose. On July 9, 2012, President Obama signed the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. The Act adds canna­ bimimetic agents, including 15 specific cannabimimetic agents by name, to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Included The success of this investigation is evident by the historical among these cannabimimetic agents are five synthetic cannabi­ linkage to dozens of narcotic and money seizures and the con­ noids that had previously been controlled by DEA under a tem­ viction of all cell leaders/organizers. Group D-73 developed this porary emergency scheduling order since March 2011. investigation from a chance encounter that an opportunist un­ dercover agent had with drug trafficker Aaron Jenkins in Austin, Multi-National Operation Nets $55.9 Million Texas, in January 2010. Jenkins was on supervised release for the Heroin Seizure in Afghanistan distribution of 20 pounds of cocaine. On October 29, 2010, a multi-national DEA operation led to The Undercover Agent (UA) advised Jenkins that he was from the seizure of $55.9 million in heroin at four clandestine labora­ Laredo, Texas and owned a fictitious trucking company. Over the tories located in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. The nearly one course of the investigation, nine separate UC agents, two pen reg­ metric ton of narcotics was seized as a result of a large-scale joint isters, a four kilogram cocaine flash, seven separate UC meetings, narcotics enforcement operation by DEA, Afghan, and Russian surveillances, toll analysis, financial investigations, search war­ anti-drug agents in Afghanistan. In addition to seizing 932 kilo­ rants, consent searches, arrest warrants, ping orders, mobile track­ grams of heroin and 156 kilograms of opium, a large quantity of ing devices, 122 recorded consensual conversations, SMS mes­ precursor chemicals and materials were also confiscated. sages, undercover email accounts, UC bank accounts, and T-III intercepts were all utilized. No Quarter Given by Raleigh DO DEA Laredo identified and prosecuted all cell leaders, in­ In 2011 and 2012, the DEA Raleigh Resident Office targeted cluding leader Aaron Jenkins. Jenkins members were linked to the Jorge Acosta-Muro drug trafficking organization in an inves­ multiple weapons, $2,155,000 in drug proceeds, 30.8 pounds of tigation dubbed Operation “No Quarter.” Indeed, “No Quarter” cocaine, and 4,250 pounds of marijuana seized throughout the was given by the Raleigh Resident Office, and the investigation United States. resulted in the arrest of over 60 individuals and the seizure of 127

165 History

kilograms of cocaine, 31 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, eration Bad Altitude. The DTO was responsible for the monthly 200 pounds of marijuana, 32 grams of heroin, over $1.5 million distribution of approximately 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of high- in U.S. currency, 25 firearms, and personal and real property val­ grade Canadian and domestic indoor grown marijuana, and 100 ued at more than $2 million. Operation “No Quarter” led to the to 200 kilograms of cocaine throughout the U.S. and Canada. indictment of “El Commandante 4,” a Gulf Cartel leader and a Semi-trucks with hidden compartments were used to smuggle the chief lieutenant for CPOT Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez, a.k.a. marijuana into the U.S. from Canada. The marijuana was then “El Coss.” unloaded and sorted in a warehouse in Kent, Washington and distributed across the country to California, Illinois, Missouri, Shutting Down a Pill Pipeline Georgia, and New Jersey. In April 2011, the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office Southwest­ Michael Murphy served as a chief pilot for the DTO, flying ern HIDTA Task Force and the Stamford Police Narcotics and marijuana and cash across the country and hiring other pilots to Organized Crime Unit initiated an investigation of a multi-state fly the drugs. The DTO utilized a total of six different private oxycodone drug trafficking organization. Based on information airline pilots and four airplanes to transport their illicit drugs and from an informant, Michael McGilvary of Florida was identified drug proceeds. Proceeds from the marijuana distribution were as the main source of oxycodone supply to several Connecticut used to purchase cocaine from Southern California. The cocaine distributors. McGivalry was transporting thousands of oxycodone was then transported to British Columbia for distribution. The pills from South Florida to cities throughout Connecticut during smuggling organization had ties to the Hells Angels outlaw mo­ 2010 and 2011. The oxycodone was transported to the Northeast torcycle gang in British Columbia, Canada. via commercial airline and bribes were paid to multiple Transpor­ The investigation led to the arrest of 25 individuals on federal tation Security Administration employees within the Westchester drug charges and the seizure of over 2,300 pounds of marijuana, County, NY airport and the West Palm Beach, FL airport. 136 kilograms of cocaine and $3,625,459, to include three pri­ Payments were made directly to the TSA employees to assist vate aircraft used by the DTO. this DTO in circumventing security measures and allowing the il­ legal transportation of oxycodone and currency. Bribery payments Attacking Valencia Rodriguez Organization in were also made to a Westchester County, NY police officer for Tucson assisting the DTO in bypassing airport security. In addition, a In 2008, Jesus Valencia Rodriguez was identified as the Mexi­ Florida Highway Patrol officer participated in protecting mem­ co-based gatekeeper working for the Caborca-based Paez-Soto cell bers of this DTO. The investigation concluded with the arrest of of the Sinaloa Cartel. Valencia-Rodriguez was responsible for co­ 20 individuals, including numerous public officials. Over 10,000 ordinating importation of multi-ton quantities of marijuana and oxycodone pills and assets totaling $221,000 were seized. illegal aliens from Mexico into the United States through the San Miguel Gate area and the smuggling of bulk drug proceeds and Targeting Heroin in St. Louis assault weapons back into Mexico. The San Miguel Gate area is In July 2011, the DEA St. Louis Mobile Enforcement Team a remote U.S./Mexico border location on the Tohono O’Odham collaborated with 12 St. Louis area police departments to develop Indian Reservation in Arizona. The reservation allows tribal mem­ and execute a comprehensive enforcement strategy designed to bers to pass freely between the United States and Mexico. target the dangerous heroin trade in that region. Beginning in May 2008, law enforcement intelligence linked Between July and September 2011, DEA Special Agents, along over 150 drug seizures totaling approximately 28,000 pounds of with those local departments, attacked all levels of the heroin marijuana to the Valencia-Rodriguez DTO. In February 2010, trade, culminating in the execution of 10 search warrants, the sei­ law enforcement officials also seized 41 assault weapons in the zure of significant quantities of heroin and cocaine, and the arrest San Miguel vicinity that were en-route from Phoenix, Arizona to of 75 individuals. Valencia-Rodriguez in Mexico. The Valencia-Rodriguez organiza- St. Louis Case Results in the Arrest of La Familia Cell Head In June 2011, St. Louis Division Group 31 arrested 29 mem­ bers of an international cocaine trafficking group directly con­ nected to the Mexico based La Familia organization. Ten of those arrested were from St. Louis and the remaining were located in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Texas. Intelligence developed during this case led to telecommunication intercepts in three DEA field divisions. During the course of this case agents seized more than 50 kilo­ grams of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin, 530 pounds of marijuana, and nearly $2 million.

Operation Bad Attitude (2011) In April 2011, the DEA Seattle Field Division’s HIDTA Inte­ grated Task Force Group dismantled the Jacob Stuart internation­ al marijuana and cocaine trafficking organization, dubbed ­Op San Miguel Gate on the Tohono O’Odham Indian Reservation. 166 History

Javier, and Rafael Arellano-Felix. Based in Tijuana, the AFO at one time had tentacles throughout Mexico, Colombia, and the U.S. The organization emerged in the late 1980s and dominated cocaine and methamphetamine smuggling into the U.S. for over two decades. The AFO also engaged in kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and money laundering. Over the course of more than 10 years, DEA Tijuana agents dismantled the AFO by arresting its top lieutenants and systematically debilitating its infrastructure. In February 2002 Ramon Arellano-Felix, the brutal and noto­ rious enforcer of the AFO, was assassinated by rival cartel mem­ bers in Mazatlan, Sinaloa. In March 2002, DEA Tijuana shared information with Mexico that led to the introduction of an undercover Mexican military officer into the organization, leading the Mexican military to a location in Puebla where Benjamin Arellano-Felix was arrested.

Residence in Choulic Village-Tohono O’Odham Indian Reservation.

Drug and Alien Smuggling Routes tion used compartments in vehicles, ramped vehicle loads, con­ cealed tire loads, and backpackers to facilitate drug transportation operations in the remote desert area. In May 2011, DEA’s Tucson District Office OCDETF Strike Force, along with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Tohono O’Odham Nation Police Department, announced the arrests of 27 of 46 suspected members of the Jesus Valencia Ro­ driguez drug trafficking organization, working on behalf of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel, on charges of illegally conducting an en­ terprise, conspiracy, transportation of marijuana for sale; money laundering; participating in a criminal syndicate; smuggling of human beings; and use of a wire communication or electronic communication in a drug-related transaction. DEA Tijuana Helps Dismantle Arellano-Felix Organization The Arellano-Felix The Arellano-Felix organization (AFO) was one of Mexico’s Brothers, Top (from left to right): Ramon, most powerful and violent criminal enterprises in Mexico for over Benjamin and Rafael. two decades. The AFO is alleged to have been responsible for sev­ Bottom: Javier (left) eral hundred murders, to include the assassination of Catholic and Eduardo (right). Cardinal Juan Posadas-Ocampo in 1993. The organization was named for the brothers in charge: Benjamin, Ramon, Eduardo,

167 History

In April 2004, DEA Tijuana executed Operation Crossfire that resulted in the arrests of 43 high-ranking Mexican law enforce­ ment officials in a single sweep. Every officer arrested had been meticulously recruited by the AFO to perform specific functions for the organization, to include murder, kidnapping, protection, and drug distribution. The 43 arrested in Operation Crossfire in­ cluded the Tijuana Police Chief, the State Deputy Attorney Gen­ eral, and the Commander for State Judicial Police. In June 2004, DEA Tijuana launched Operation United Eagles and arrested three of the highest ranking AFO lieutenants along with their protection details and money launderers. The most noteworthy arrestees in this Operation were plaza bosses Alberto “Cris” Simental-Garcia, Efrain “El Efra” Perez-Pazuengo, and Jorge “Macumba” Aureliano-Felix. In August 2006, as a continuation of Operation United Eagles, AFO chief Javier Arellano-Felix and several of his top lieutenants Above and below: Operation Evolution were arrested aboard a luxury fishing boat named “Doc Holiday” off the coast of La Paz, Baja California Sur by the U.S. Coast Guard. In October 2008 Eduardo Arellano-Felix, the last remaining Arellano-Felix brother, was arrested in Tijuana. He remains in­ carcerated while awaiting extradition to the United States. After the arrest of Eduardo, leadership of the AFO fell to Fernando “El Inge” Sanchez-Arellano, a nephew of the Arellano-Felix brothers, and his operations lieutenant, Armando “Gordo” Villareal-Here­ dia. On July 9, 2011, DEA Tijuana agents, in conjunction with DEA Hermosillo agents and the SSP/SIU, located and arrested DEA fugitive Armando Villarreal-Heredia in Hermosillo, Sonora. DEA Tijuana has assisted host nation counterparts and the DEA San Diego Division Office in conducting hundreds of other AFO arrests, seizing multi-ton quantities of drugs and millions of In the summer of 2011, the case culminated in search warrants dollars, and destroying numerous clandestine tunnels in further­ of various properties associated with this group. The searches yield­ ance of the dismantling of the Arellano-Felix Organization. ed approximately three kilograms of heroin and about $600,000 in assets, about $200,000 of which was expensive jewelry. Later Operation Evolution (2011) that summer, St. Louis Division Groups 32 and 37 arrested all of St. Louis Field Division Group 37 began an investigation tar­ the principle players in this case. geting the heroin, cocaine, and marijuana trafficking activities of the Viconto Johnson and Quentin Thompson drug trafficking or­ Juarez Cartel’s Chief Enforcer Captured ganization. Thompson had been an associate of the Black Mafia Since 2010, DEA Ciudad Juarez agents, in conjunction with Family during its heyday, but was incarcerated when Group 37 a Sensitive Investigative Unit of the Mexican federal police (SSP/ opened its case. Being imprisoned did not stop Thompson from SIU), had been investigating Jose Antonio “Diego” Acosta-Her­ conducting his drug trafficking venture with Viconto Johnson and nandez in his role as the leader of La Linea, an enforcement arm others in St. Louis. While at a halfway house, Thompson began of the Juarez Cartel. A former police officer, Acosta-Hernandez making plans to ship large quantities of drugs from the Western was arrested on July 29, 2011 (pictured). Acosta-Hernandez had United States to the Mid-West. been working directly for “El Pariente,” a high-ranking member In July 2010, investigators learned that Johnson sought to of the Juarez Cartel and close associate of cartel leader Vicente equip a vehicle with a concealed compartment in order to ship Carrillo-Fuentes. cocaine from Arizona to Missouri. Agents received authorization to intercept Johnson’s telephone and learned that in November 2010, he planned to send this vehicle to Arizona to obtain the cocaine. The wiretap indicated that the car would be driving back on Christmas Eve 2010. Investigators obtained a seizure warrant for the trap car and drove out to Colorado to intercept it. On a cold and snowy Christmas Eve, agents seized the vehicle while the driver was occupied in rural Colorado. When the vehicle was searched pursuant to a search warrant, investigators seized eight kilograms of cocaine secreted inside a sophisticated hydraulic con­ cealed compartment.

168 Jose Antonio Acosta-Hernandez History

As “chief enforcer” for the cartel, Acosta-Hernandez was The investigation resulted in 203 arrests, 43 search warrants, instrumental in instigating the bloodshed that has engulfed 44 firearms, $7.8 million dollars in cash, 650 pounds of mari­ Ciudad Juarez in the ongoing turf war between the Juarez and juana, 435 pounds of methamphetamine, 123 pounds of cocaine, Sinaloa cartels. Furthermore, Acosta-Hernandez was responsible and 4.5 pounds of heroin. for ordering daily assassinations, kidnappings, extortions, and attacks against Sinaloa Cartel members, civilians, and law en­ forcement personnel. Acosta-Hernandez was also responsible for ordering the placement of several narco-banners in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City, threatening DEA agents for assist­ ing Mexican law enforcement agencies in their investigation of the Juarez Cartel. Operation OG Style (2009) In August 2009, officers from the Phoenix Police Depart­ ment’s South Mountain Precinct noticed an increase in neigh­ borhood narcotics complaints and the violent crime often as­ sociated with that type of activity. As their investigation moved forward, several criminal street gangs were identified and ap­ peared to be working together to further their lucrative illegal drug operation. Due to the complexity of the investigation, a partnership was formed with DEA and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Investigators monitored these suspects, identi­ Weapons and money seized during Operation OG Style. fied gang leaders and the primary subjects who were purchasing, manufacturing and distributing crack cocaine throughout the South Mountain area. Twenty simultaneous search warrants were served across the valley as part of this undercover operation coined “Operation OG Style.” Dozens of arrests occurred and large property seizures took place. Operation Crank Call (2011) On December 20, 2011, DEA’s Phoenix Field Division along with the Tempe Police Department, the Arizona Attorney’s Gen­ eral and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced the culmination of a 15-month long investigation regarding an ex­ tensive trafficking cell associated with the Sinaloa Cartel headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zamba­ da-Garcia.” Tempe Police Detectives initiated the investigation after a Tempe Police Patrol Officer proactively contacted a sub­ ject upon observing an illegal drug transaction taking place in his patrol area. Both subjects were arrested; one of the subjects Saucepan containing residue of crack cocaine during Operation OG Style. was later identified as a delivery driver for a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that delivered methamphetamine to several cus­ tomers in Tempe, as well as other customers residing in Maricopa County. Based on the information from the Patrol Officer’s investigation, Detectives from the Tempe Police Special Investigations Bureau (SIB), Special Agents from the Phoenix Divi­ sion DEA Strike Force Group 2, and prosecu­ tors from Maricopa County Attorney’s Of­ fice and Attorney General’s Office initiated a joint undercover investigation into the DTO. Tempe Police Detectives received informa­ tion that the Phoenix DEA was investigating common elements of the DTO, and the joint investigation, dubbed Operation Crank Call was initiated. Cash seized in Operation Crank Call. 169 History

38th Street Gang Round-Up ter (EPIC). The group, led by DEA Dallas Division Special Agent On February 1, 2011, DEA announced the culmination of the in Charge (SAC) James Capra and EPIC Director Arthur Doty, 38th Street Gang roundup. This operation targeted the 38th Street toured the EPIC facility, received an overview of EPIC’s mission Gang, one of the oldest in California that had a devastating im­ and vision, as well as details on several intelligence programs that pact on the communities of South Los Angeles. It was alleged that support law enforcement agencies throughout the United States the 38th Street Gang continually engaged in the distribution of and the world. methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine, and participated in numerous violent acts across the community. Nearly 800 law Operation Fire and Ice (2011) enforcement officers took part in the raid that arrested nearly 60 With the June 2, 2011, culmination of Operation Fire and Ice, individuals. During the operation, law enforcement seized ap­ DEA announced that as a result of an international money laun­ proximately seven kilograms of cocaine, one pound of metham­ dering and drug conspiracy investigation with its genesis in East phetamine, 23 firearms, and approximately $250,000 in cash. Boston nearly five years prior, federal law enforcement authori­ Fifty of the defendants were charged with violating the federal ties were charging 20 individuals and seizing 48 bank accounts RICO Act by acting on behalf of the gang and participating in across the United States. This was a multi-national operation that murders, murder plots, attempted murders, narcotics trafficking, over four years involved DEA’s Boston Field Division, along with robberies, extortion, and witness intimidation. The racketeering the DEA’s Bogotá, Guatemala, Mexico, Curaçao, and Rome, Italy count alleges 250 overt acts, many of them violent crimes, includ­ foreign offices. These offices were investigating the narcotics and ing assaults on rival gang members and law enforcement officers. money laundering trafficking conglomerate identified as La Ofi­ Most of the defendants in the racketeering case faced sentencing cina de Envigado. to life in federal prison. Beginning in 2008, the DEA conducted undercover money pick-ups in Rome and elsewhere, resulting in the seizure of ap­ Operation Pill Nation (2011) proximately 225 kilograms of cocaine in Rome, and the arrest DEA’s Operation Pill Nation targeted clinics that operated as pill of 25 individuals in Italy on drug trafficking and money laun­ mills, offering patients prescriptions for oxycodone and other con­ dering offenses. DEA Boston and Curaçao also investigated the trolled substances where there was no legitimate medical purpose money laundering activities of La Oficina de Envigado in Aruba. and not within the usual course of professional medical practice. On April 14, 2010, a federal grand jury in Boston returned an Those involved were planning to distribute and dispense more indictment charging two residents of Aruba. On May 19, 2011, than 660,000 units of the Schedule II narcotic oxycodone. To a federal Grand Jury in Boston returned an indictment charging distribute the drugs, the doctors marketed the clinics through 20 individuals from Colombia, Venezuela and Massachusetts with more than 1,600 Internet sites and required immediate cash pay­ drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. ments from patients for a clinic “visit fee.” They then directed the patients to obtain MRIs that they knew to be inferior. The DEA Helps Foil Iranian Terror Plot defendants then over-aggressively interpreted the MRIs in order An elaborate scheme to murder the Saudi Ambassador to the to justify prescriptions. They also falsified patients’ urine tests for a United States with explosives was foiled in October 2011, thanks fee to justify the highly addictive pain medications. Money laun­ to the work of a DEA-led investigation. Two individuals were dering was also occurring among those involved. charged with conspiracy to murder a foreign official, conspiracy Operation Pill Nation consisted of over 340 undercover buys to engage in foreign travel and use of interstate and foreign com­ of prescription drugs from over 60 doctors in more than 40 “pill merce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, conspiracy mills.” The operation concluded in February 2011 and netted 22 to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives), and conspiracy arrests and seized over $2.2 million in cash and 70 vehicles, in­ to commit an act of international terrorism transcending national cluding numerous exotic cars. boundaries. The criminal complaint alleged that from the spring of 2011 Project Delirium (2011) to October 2011, Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalized Project Delirium was a 20-month series of nationwide inves­ U.S. citizen holding both Iranian and U.S. passports, and Ghol­ tigations that targeted the La Familia Michoacana cartel. La Fa­ am Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran’s Qods Force, which milia, a violent Mexican cartel, are most known for their traffick­ is a special operations unit of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary ing of methamphetamine into the United States and unspeakable Guard Corps (IRGC) that is said to sponsor and promote terrorist violence on both sides of the border. Information sharing between activities abroad worked together on the plot. Arbabsiar allegedly the DEA and Mexican police resulted significant arrests and sei­ met on a number of occasions in Mexico with a DEA confidential zures of drugs and money in Mexico. source who has posed as an associate of a violent international Project Delirium culminated in July 2011 and resulted in drug trafficking cartel. According to the complaint, Arbabsiar ­ar 1,985 arrests, the seizure of $62 million in currency, the seizure ranged to hire DEA’s confidential source and his accomplices to of approximately 2,773 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,722 ki­ murder the Ambassador, and Shakuri and other Iran-based co- lograms of cocaine, 1,005 pounds of heroin, 14,818 pounds of conspirators were aware of and approved the plan with $100,000 marijuana, and $3.8 million in other assets. wired to a U.S. bank account as a down payment for the killing. NTCC Visit to the El Paso Intelligence Center First Intelligence Division Awards Ceremony On June 16, 2011, over eighty members of the North Texas On December 14, 2011, the first DEA Intelligence Division Crime Commission (NTCC) visited the El Paso Intelligence Cen­ Awards Ceremony was held at DEA Headquarters to recognize

170 History

and society. DEA will produce the National Drug Threat Assessment on an annual basis for policymakers, law enforcement person­ nel, and treatment providers at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels. This assessment will draw upon a broad range of informa­ tion sources to describe and analyze the drug threat to the nation. Additionally, DEA will produce national level topical assessments, on an as needed basis, regarding specific drug threats. These recurring strategic prod­ ucts will draw upon DEA information and reporting from law enforcement, intelli­ gence, and public health sources, along with open source information. Document/Media Exploitation is a unique program that allows intelligence analysts to quickly process vital information obtained from investigative files, as well as documents First DEA Intelligence Division Awards Ceremony and electronic media seized during the execu­ Intelligence personnel for outstanding achievements, exceptional tion of search warrants and subpoenas. This evidence is then orga­ performance and years of government service. Intelligence Re­ nized and analyzed to reveal associations, assets, and methods of search Specialist Stephanie Murphy (pictured above) received spe­ drug traffickers in support of criminal investigations and prosecu­ cial recognition for 45 years of federal service, including 36 years tions. with DEA. During her opening remarks, DEA Administrator The DOMEX function has proven its effectiveness in approxi­ Michele Leonhart acknowledged the Intelligence Division’s unfal­ mately 1,000 investigations since 1993. Many of the largest in­ tering efforts on behalf of the agency and its remarkable contribu­ vestigations supported by the DOMEX program have a digital tions to the DEA mission. James R. Clapper, Director of National component, which includes the exploitation of computers, PDAs, Intelligence, served as the keynote speaker for this event. It was blackberries, cell phones, and digital cameras. This electronic me­ Director Clapper’s first visit to DEA, during which he told the dia exploitation has proved to be an extremely valuable compo­ audience “DEA punches way above its weight and the more you nent of the overall DOMEX effort. do, the more I admire the agency.” Two of the notable awards presented during the ceremony in­ cluded the IACP-SPRINT Excellence in Law Enforcement Re­ search Award for the Operation Breakthrough/Carbon-14 Dating Study and a National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation to the Consolidated Counterdrug Database Community/Threat Re­ porting and Forecasting Unit. New Domestic Strategic Intelligence Unit and Document/Media Exploitation Section The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012, signed into law by the President on November 18, 2011, provided funding to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the closure of the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) and the reassignment of NDIC functions to other DOJ entities. As a result, the Attorney General directed DEA to assume NDIC’s high priority strategic intelligence reporting function and the document and media exploitation (DOMEX) function. Upon the transition of these functions to DEA in June 2012, the newly cre­ ated Domestic Strategic Intelligence Unit (NWWD) and Docu­ ment/Media Exploitation Section (NSE) were staffed with former NDIC intelligence analysts and technical personnel, along with current DEA intelligence analysts. The establishment of NWWD allows DEA to enhance its production of national-level strategic drug intelligence in or­ der to provide policymakers with the most current information on availability, demand, production, cultivation, transporta­ tion, and distribution, as well as the effects of drugs on abusers

171 History Sinaloa Cartel Death Squad Leader Sentenced to Life in Prison On January 6, 2012, Sinaloa Cartel hit squad leader Rafael Figueroa-Merino, a.k.a. “Anibal,” was sentenced in El Paso to multiple terms of life in prison following his guilty plea to federal charges of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. Figueroa, a legal permanent resident of the United States and chief assassin for Sinaloa Cartel lieutenant Jose Antonio Torres-Marrufo, was arrested in El Paso upon entering the United States from Mexico in April 2011. Once in DEA custody, Figueroa admitted his involvement in numerous acts of violence in furtherance of the Sinaloa Cartel’s battle with the Juarez Cartel for control of the lucrative Ciudad Juarez drug trafficking corridor, including the May 2010 kidnap­ ping and murder of three individuals, one a United States citi­ zen, who were attending a wedding at a church in Ciudad Juarez. Figueroa also admitted his involvement in a rare case of cross- border violence in which a trafficker was kidnapped from Horizon Pictured are DEA and U.S.Marshal Agents escorting Escajeda. City, Texas in September 2009 and taken to Ciudad Juarez, where he was tortured and killed for his role in the transportation of a Rikin Escajeda Extradited and Convicted (2012) load of marijuana that was seized in the United States. In addi­ On March 1, 2012, Jose Rodolfo Escajeda, aka “Rikin,” was tion, DEA’s investigation linked Figueroa to the importation of sentenced in El Paso to 35 years in prison following his guilty plea 1,000 kilograms of cocaine for which he provided security. to a 2006 indictment charging him with marijuana and cocaine Following his arrest, information provided by Figueroa led to trafficking. Escajeda and his brother, Oscar Alonso Escajeda- the arrest of a co-conspirator in El Paso and a large seizure of Candelaria, were leaders of a drug trafficking organization that weapons and ammunition hidden in a home in Ciudad Juarez. controlled the smuggling of drugs from the Valle de Juarez, which is situated east of Ciudad Juarez along the Rio Grande, to the United States. Escajeda was extradited from Mexico to the United States on December 11, 2010, and later admitted to smuggling over 100,000 kilograms of marijuana into the United States on behalf of the Juarez Cartel from 2003 through 2008. During that time period, Escajeda, who was known for using intimidation to con­ trol smuggling routes in the Valle de Juarez, worked with high- level members of the Juarez Cartel to collect the taxes on drug loads and bribe Mexican officials. He also personally paid mil­ lions of dollars in drug proceeds to Juarez Cartel leaders. In Janu­ ary 2006, employees of Escajeda were involved in a high-profile confrontation with Texas law enforcement authorities at Neely’s Crossing on the Rio Grande in Hudspeth County while attempt­ ing to smuggle marijuana into the United States using Mexican military-style vehicles. Oscar Alonso Escajeda-Candelaria was extradited from Mexico to the United States in April 2009 and sentenced to more than 27 years in prison in April 2010. We Were Soldiers Agents from DEA’s Laredo, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colora­ do; Columbia, South Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina Offices, along with various federal, state, and local law enforce­ ment officers arrested Kevin Corley and seven other individuals on March 24, 2012. Since 2011, Corley had met numerous times with undercover law enforcement officers who posed as members of the Los Zetas drug cartel. Over the next several months, Corley continued to communicate with undercover agents via text messaging, phone calls, and emails regarding the services he could provide the cartel as a result of the training, experience, and access to information Pictured is a 50 caliber found in the arsenal in Ciudad Juarez. and equipment afforded to him as an active duty U.S. Army of­ 172 History

On March 5, 2012, Corley delivered two AR-15 assault rifles with scopes, an airsoft as­ sault rifle, five allegedly stolen ballistic vests, and other miscellaneous equipment to an undercover agent in Colorado Springs, Colo­ rado. At the meet Corley and the undercover agent discussed Corley bringing his team to Laredo, Texas to conduct the contract killing and retrieve the 20 kilograms of cocaine on March 24, 2012. Corley told the undercover agent he had bought a new Ka-Bar knife to carve a “Z” (for “Zeta”) into the victim’s chest and was planning on buying a hatchet to dis­ member the body. On March 24, 2012, Corley and his team traveled to Laredo, Texas to meet with under­ cover agents and perform the contract killing. They were arrested and operation resulted Undercover meet in Laredo on march 24. Left to right: Samuel Walker, Jerome Corley, TFO Joe in the dismantlement of Corley’s marijuana Benavides, SA John Leonard, Shavar Davis, and Kevin Corley. and cocaine trafficking organization. Three individuals, including Corley, were arrested in Laredo, two were arrested in Columbia, and three other members were arrested in Charleston. Rowland Heights, CA Doctor to be Tried for Murder in Three Overdose Deaths In 2007, DEA Riverside, California began an investigation into the prescribing practices of Dr. Lisa Tseng, a Rowland Heights, CA Doctor of Osteopathy. DEA Riverside coor­ dinated this investigation with the Medical Board of CA and conducted numerous un­ dercover patient visit operations targeting Dr. Tseng. In August 2010, as a result of Schedule III narcotic prescriptions gained as evidence dur­ ing the undercover patient visits, DEA Riv­ ficer. Corley revealed that weapons could easily be stolen from erside along with the Medical Board of CA and the Los Angeles military posts, and thoroughly explained military tactics and told County Sheriff’s Department executed a federal search warrant on undercover agents he could train 40 cartel members in two weeks. Dr. Tseng’s medical clinic in Rowland Heights. DEA Riverside During a conversation between Corley and an undercover also worked with the DEA Office of Chief Counsel and served agent in December 2011, Corley explained that he had one team an Immediate Suspension Order upon Dr. Tseng and her DEA prepared to help train cartel members and another to conduct Certificate of Registration, thereby stopping Dr. Tseng’s ability to “wet work” (murder-for-hire) at the direction of the cartel. Corley write narcotic prescriptions. told agents he would accept cocaine in lieu of a fee for his service, In March 2012, as a result of the DEA investigation and evi­ but ultimately agreed to accept $50,000 and five kilograms of co­ dence obtained from the search warrant, Dr. Tseng was arrested caine for a full team. Corley also offered to refund the money if and charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office the victim survived. At the same meeting, Corley negotiated to with second-degree murder in three overdose patient deaths, and purchase and escort 500 pounds of marijuana. 20 felony counts of prescribing drugs to patients with no legiti­ On January 14, 2012, Corley, Marcus Mickle, Calvin Epps, and mate medical indication. Jerome Corley traveled to Laredo, Texas to escort the 500 pounds In June 2012, a preliminary hearing was conducted and a of marijuana to South Carolina. The tractor trailer transporting Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge ordered Dr. Tseng to the shipment was pulled over and the marijuana was seized during stand trial for the three second-degree murder charges and the a traffic stop in La Salle County, Texas. In the weeks following this additional 20 felony counts. This was the first time the Los An­ seizure, Corley and his co-conspirators continued to contact un­ geles County District Attorney’s Office has filed murder charges dercover agents regarding the seized marijuana load and to discuss against a doctor because of allegedly reckless prescribing prac­ the possibility of future transactions with the agents. tices.

173 History

Guzman-Loera is one of the most wanted criminals in the world. To many in the organized crime world, he is considered a ghost who has become a legend. The Sinaloa Cartel, comprised of Guzman-Loera, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada-Garcia, and Juan “El Azul” Esparragosa-Moreno, controls a vast drug distribution empire that spans six continents. The Sinaloa Cartel is the single largest supplier of illegal drugs (cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine) to the United States. Guzman-Loera has been ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the most powerful people in the world every year since 2009. He was also listed by Forbes as the 10th richest man in Mexico in 2011. Guzman-Loera has multiple indictments on drug conspiracy charges in the United States and there is a $5 million reward for his capture. DEA North & Central Americas Region (NCAR) in cooperation with the Government of Mexico launched numerous enforcement operations against Guzman-Loera and his associates. On February 13, 2012, Consolidated Priority Organization Pictured are DEA and FBI Agents taking Acosta into custody in the U.S. Target (CPOT) Jaime Herrera-Herrera and an associate, Felipe Naranjo-Sevilla, were detained in Culiacan, Sinaloa, by the Polica Juarez Cartel Enforcer Extradited and Convicted Federal Preventiva in possession of approximately 202 kilograms On April 5, 2012, Jose Antonio Acosta-Hernandez, a.k.a. “Di­ of methamphetamine. The Mazatlan office, in conjunction with ego,” the top enforcer for CPOT Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes’s Juarez the DEA Washington Field Division and the Secretaria de Seguri­ Cartel, was sentenced in El Paso to seven terms of life in prison dad Publica (SSP)/Sensitive Investigative Unit, had been targeting following his guilty plea to federal charges of racketeering, drug the Herrera-Herrera Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) since trafficking, money laundering and murder. The murder charges 2007. Herrera-Herrera is the leader of a Sinaloa Cartel-aligned related to the March 2010 triple homicide in Ciudad Juarez of DTO responsible for trafficking thousands of pounds of metham­ U.S. Consulate employee Lesley Enriquez, her husband El Paso phetamine and hundreds of kilograms of cocaine on a monthly Country Sheriff’s Office Detention Officer Arthur Redelfs, and basis from the interior of Mexico through Arizona and California Jorge Salcido, the husband of another U.S. Consulate employee. ports of entry to United States cities. As the leader of La Linea, the Juarez Cartel’s enforcement arm, In February 2012, NCAR personnel provided actionable intel­ Acosta admitted to directing or participating in more than 1,500 ligence to SSP personnel advising that Guzman-Loera was in a murders since 2008, making him responsible for much of the residence in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. SSP launched bloodshed in the Juarez Cartel’s battle with Joaquin Guzman­ an enforcement operation that resulted in the arrests of close asso­ Loera’s Sinaloa Cartel for control of Ciudad Juarez’s lucrative drug ciates of Guzman-Loera. As a result, several high powered assault trafficking corridor. Acosta was extradited from Mexico on March rifles with grenade launchers, several cellular telephones, ammu­ 16, 2012, to face the U.S. charges. nition, and personal items that belonged to Guzman-Loera were seized. DEA Intelligence advised that Guzman-Loera was able to Tracking the Sinaloa Cartel’s “Chapo” Guzman evade SSP personnel through the help of one of his associates. Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman-Loera, variously known as “El On May 24, 2012, NCAR personnel provided actionable in­ Chapo,” “El Senor,” “The Man” or “The Lord,” was born on April telligence to Secre­ 4, 1957, in Badiraguato, Sinaloa, Mexico. This area is known as taria de la Marina the “Golden Triangle” (Sinaloa/Durango/Chihuahua), a region (SEMAR, Mexican central to Mexico’s marijuana and opium poppy cultivation indus­ Navy) personnel try. Guzman-Loera’s father had connections in the Sinaloa capital advising that Zam­ of Culiacan through narco-trafficking “pioneer” Pedro Aviles-Per­ bada-Garcia and ez. In the late 1970s, Hector “El Guero” Luis Palma-Salazar gave possibly Guzman- Guzman-Loera his first break and placed him in charge of trans­ Loera would be porting illegal drugs from the Sierra Madres to the U.S. south­ at Rancho Aguaje west border. In the early 1980s, Guzman-Loera was introduced to in Badiraguato, Miguel “El Padrino” Angel Felix-Gallardo who put him in charge Sinaloa. SEMAR of logistics, coordinating airplane flights, boat arrivals, and trucks launched an en­ coming from Colombia into Mexico. After Felix-Gallardo’s cap­ forcement opera­ ture, Guzman-Loera took control of the Sinaloa Cartel. tion, which result­ On June 9, 1993, Guzman-Loera was captured in Guatemala ed in a gun battle and extradited to Mexico on drug trafficking, criminal association, between SEMAR and bribery charges. On November 22, 1995, he was transferred and Sinaloa Car­ to the Puente Grande maximum security prison. After wielding tel members. As a influence over everyone in the prison, including the facility’s di­ result, several high rector, Guzman-Loera was able to escape. powered assault ri- Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman-Loera 174 History

passed the Safe and Secure Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow users of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in cer­ tain instances. On December 21, 2012, DEA published its Notice of Pro­ posed Rulemaking for the Disposal of Controlled Substances in the Federal Register. The proposed regulations seek to implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. This rule proposes requirements to govern the secure disposal of controlled substance medications by both DEA registrants and what the Controlled Substances Act refers to as “ultimate users” of these medications (patients and animals). The proposed regulations seek to expand the options available to collect these medications from ultimate users for the purpose of disposal, to include take- back events, mail-back programs, and collection box locations. Seized items from the Sinaloa Cartel. The proposed regulations contain specific provisions that al­ low law enforcement agencies to voluntarily conduct take-back fles with grenade launchers, several cellular telephones, ammuni­ events, administer mail-back programs, and maintain collection tion, and personal items that belonged to Zambada-Garcia were boxes; allow authorized manufacturers, distributors, reverse dis­ seized. DEA Intelligence advised that Zambada-Garcia was able tributors, and retail pharmacies to voluntarily administer mail- to evade military personnel through the help of one of his associ­ back programs and maintain collection boxes; and allow autho­ ates and fled to the east into the mountainous region bordering rized retail pharmacies to voluntarily maintain collection boxes at Durango. The hunt continues. long term care facilities. RX Take-Back Days and Disposal Programs Operation Snake Oil (2012) The Drug Enforcement Administration and government, com­ On June 29, 2012, Vincent Colangelo, a Florida pill mill ring­ munity, public health and law enforcement partners launched a leader convicted in an OCDETF/PTO investigation, dubbed nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that sought Operation Snake Oil, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. Through the initiative, Colangelo pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and dispense DEA collected potentially dangerous expired, unused, and un­ oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the wanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide. This scope of legitimate medical practice, money laundering, and fil­ initiative addressed a vital public safety and public health issue. ing a false federal income tax return. As part of his plea agree­ Many Americans were not aware that medicines that languished ment, he forfeited five properties worth over $2.5 million dollars, in home cabinets were highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and $911,951 in U.S. currency from seven bank accounts and safe abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. were increas­ deposit boxes, and 52 luxury vehicles, jewelry, and vessels worth ing at alarming rates, as were the number of accidental poison­ over $6 million dollars. ings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies showed that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans did not know how to properly dispose of their unused med­ icine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away—both potential safety and health hazards. Less than a month into the DEA prescrip­ tion drug “Take-Back” campaign, over 2,700 sites had joined the effort nationwide. That number grew to 5,300 sites for the second Take-Back Day in April 2011. Americans participating in DEA’s previous Take-Back Days turned in nearly 1.6 million pounds— almost 774 tons—of prescription drugs, most recently at almost 5,700 sites operated by nearly 4,300 of the DEA’s local law enforce­ Flanked on either side by two seized Lamborghinis, the Miami TDS Squad with some of the numer­ ment partners. During this effort Congress ous seized high value vehicles. 175 History Digging Up Drug Tunnels In July 2012 Agents from DEA’s Yuma Resident Office executed a search warrant inside a one-story non-descript building in San Luis, Arizona. They discovered the U.S. entrance to a tunnel that stretched 240 yards underground to an ice plant across the bor­ der in Mexico. The tunnel’s entrance was in a storage room hidden beneath a large wa­ ter tank. From the floor, the tunnel plunged more than 55 feet into the ground. Its walls stood more than six feet high. The shaft of the passageway measured four feet wide at the San Luis entrance. The tunnel was equipped with lighting and a ventilation system. When agents entered the San Luis busi­ ness, it was empty and largely unfurnished. Found on the floor next to the tunnel en­ trance were numerous 55 gallon drums filled with dirt and soil excavated from the vertical shaft as well as large plywood boxes believed Left to right: Miami FD SAC Mark Trouville, SA Jeff Womack, GS Jeannette Moran, SA Joseph Gill, and ASAC Kevin Stanfill pose with some of Colangelo’s seized vehicles. to be used to cover the pallets of drums for lat­ er removal from the location. As DEA agents This 33-month investigation revealed that Colangelo’s drug searched the business, the Mexican Military made entry into the trafficking organization operated seven pain clinics and one phar­ ice plant business across the border in San Luis Rio Colorado, macy in South Florida, making approximately $30,000 per day Sonora, where they located the tunnel’s other entrance. Mexican at each clinic. Between October 2008 and February 2011 these authorities found numerous bags of dirt stacked to the ceiling in pill mills were responsible for prescribing or dispensing millions the room where the tunnel’s entryway was located. of dosage units of controlled substances to patients without le­ Since January 2012, DEA agents had been conducting surveil­ gitimate medical need. Colangelo would advertise on Craigslist to lance on the business after observing possible suspicious activity recruit doctors who were willing to prescribe maximum amounts that indicated the site was being used as a potential stash location. of oxycodone and Xanax to patients with minimal medical con­ On July 6, 2012, agents learned that the Arizona Department of sultation. Colangelo’s doctors often saw over 100 patients per day, Public Safety had stopped a black Ford F-150 pick-up on High­ and they were paid approximately $75 per patient. Thirteen doc­ way 95 on a traffic violation. Inside the bed of the truck, DPS tors were identified in this investigation and are pending indict­ officers discovered 39 pounds of methamphetamine. Information ment along with other co-conspirators. Four co-defendants have gleaned from the stop led the vehicle back to the business location already been sentenced. in San Luis, AZ. Operation Snake Oil marks the first Miami Tactical Diversion Based upon the results of the vehicle stop coupled with DEA’s Squad initiative to combat the prescription drug epidemic and the active investigation, agents obtained a search warrant to enter the rise of rogue pain clinics in South Florida. business location. Three suspects were taken into custody in connec­

Cross-border tunnel discovered in San Luis, Arizona. Entryway to the tunnel on the U.S. side. 176 History tion with the tunnel. The San Luis passageway is the only known High-Ranking Member of the Juarez Cartel Captured completed and fully operational smuggling tunnel ever uncovered On April 17, 2012, the Juarez Cartel suffered a significant blow in the Yuma, Arizona area. Between 2002 and 2012, 89 cross-bor­ to its leadership structure when Mexican federal police, aided by der tunnels were discovered in Arizona and 50 in California. DEA, arrested Luis Guillermo Castillo- Operation No Pain All Gain (2012) Rubio a.k.a. “El Pa­ In August 2012, Special Agents, Task Force Officers, and Di­ riente” in Quereta­ version Investigators from DEA’s Detroit Field Division worked ro, Mexico. Castil­ together to arrested Babubhai Patel, a criminal organization leader, lo-Rubio is consid­ and 25 other individuals. The effort resulted in the dismantlement ered a close ally of of Patel’s pharmaceutical drug trafficking and health care fraud Juarez Cartel head organization. For three years, Patel, a non-practicing pharmacist, Vicente Carrillo- operated a large-scale drug distribution and health care fraud net­ Fuentes, and was al­ work in Detroit, Michigan that hid his ownership and control of legedly responsible 26 area pharmacies through the use of straw owners. Patel paid for overseeing the doctors to write prescriptions to patients with Medicare, Medic­ training of would- aid, and private insurance without a legitimate medical purpose. be assassins for the The doctors then directed participating patients in the scheme cartel’s enforcement to fill the prescriptions at one of Patel’s many pharmacies where gangs, La Linea and insurers received controlled medication and were billed for other the Barrio Aztecas. non-controlled medications that were never dispensed. At the time of The Patel organization was responsible for dispensing more his arrest, Castil­ than six million dosage units of opiate painkillers and depressants lo-Rubio was in Luis Guillermo “El Pariente” Castillo-Rubio throughout southeast Michigan, as well as fraudulently billing charge of all Juarez $37.7 million to Medicare and $20.8 million fraudulently to Med­ Cartel activities in the state of Chihuahua and worked directly icaid. In addition to the arrests, this 3-year SOD-supported PTO/ under organizational leader Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes. Castillo- OCDETF investigation, dubbed Operation No Pain All Gain, re­ Rubio oversaw daily operations on behalf of the Juarez Cartel, sulted in the seizure of $300,000 in U.S. currency, several firearms, including the movement of drug shipments, acts of violence, of­ assets totaling $4.1 million. Based on DEA intelligence, an addi­ ficial corruption, and financial activities. As the highest-ranking tional $2 million in assets has been seized by the FBI. Six pharma­ member of the Juarez Cartel captured to-date, Castillo-Rubio’s cies surrendered their DEA registrations as a result of this operation. arrest represented a major blow to the organization.

DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart receiving the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez, and Mella Grand Officer Award from Dominican Repub­ lic President Leonel Fernandez-Reyna at the Presidential Palace on Friday August 31, 2012. The award was presented to Administrator Leonhart for her effort and commitment to battling global drug trafficking and in par­ ticular the support and close working relationship that exists between the Do­ minican Republic DNCD and the DEA Caribbean Field Division’s Santo Domingo Country Office. 177 History Synthetic Drug Takedown In 2010, poison centers nationwide re­ sponded to about 3,200 calls related to syn­ thetic “Spice” and “bath salts.” In 2011, that number jumped to more than 13,000 calls. Sixty percent of the cases involved patients 25 and younger. On July 26, 2012, agents from DEA’s Phoenix Field Division along with various state and local law enforcement agencies ex­ ecuted 17 search warrants and seized more than more 4,000 pounds of synthetic drugs. This was the first-ever law enforcement ­ac tion against the synthetic designer drug in­ dustry responsible for the production and sale of synthetic drugs that are often mar­ keted as bath salts, Spice, incense, or plant food. More than $3 million in assets were also seized. More than 3,322 pounds of synthetic cannabinoids, (K2, Spice) and over 733 Above and below: “Bath Salts” products sold as Amped Up. Containers of “Spice” labeled as Mary pounds of synthetic cathinones, (bath salts) Jane, Private Reserve. and the ingredients to produce an additional 300 pounds were seized. Over 239 pounds of suspected psilocybin mushrooms were also seized. There was a growing use of, and interest in, synthetic cathinones (stimulants/halluci­ nogens) sold under the guise of “bath salts” or “plant food.” Marketed under names such as Ivory Wave, Purple Wave, Vanilla Sky, or Bliss, these products are comprised of a class of dangerous substances perceived to mimic cocaine, LSD, MDMA, and/or metham­ phetamine. Users reported impaired percep­ tion, reduced motor control, disorientation, extreme paranoia, and violent episodes. The long-term physical and psychological effects of use are unknown but potentially severe. These products became increasingly pop­ ular between 2010 and 2012, particularly among teens and young adults and those who mistakenly believe they can bypass the drug testing protocols that have been set up by employers and government agencies to protect public safety. Operation Pill Nation 2 (2012) They are sold at a variety of retail outlets, in head shops, and With the August 16, 2012 culmination of “Operation Pill Na­ over the Internet. However, they have not been approved by tion 2,” DEA announced that seven doctors, three clinic owners, the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption or and one of their relatives had been charged with racketeering and for medical use, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing other criminal charges in South Florida. In addition, seven ve­ process. hicles and eleven weapons were seized. DEA began to investigate DEA used its emergency scheduling authority to combat these individuals in August 2009 based on a complaint from a for­ both synthetic cathinones and synthetic cannabinoids tempo­ mer employee. The former employee informed investigators that rarily placing several of these dangerous chemicals into Schedule after he left the clinic’s employment, he was requested to retroac­ I of the CSA on March 1, 2011. Congress has also acted, per­ tively sign a power of attorney granting the owners of the clinic manently placing cannabimimetic agents, including 15 specific the authorization to sign his DEA Order Forms—forms that per­ cannabimimetic agents by name, two synthetic cathinones by mit a doctor to order controlled substances. The former employee name and nine synthetic phenethylamines to Schedule I of the became suspicious when he did not recognize the DEA number CSA. on the “power of attorney” which was presented for his signature. The investigation revealed that without authorization, one of the

178 History defendants had applied for a DEA registration number using the of ongoing initiative against the cartels and their distribution net­ former employee’s personal identification. Another doctor paid work in America. These cartels are believed to be responsible for for the application. Once approved and a DEA registration num­ laundering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds from illegal ber assigned, the employer opened an account with a pharmaceu­ drug trafficking activities. tical wholesale company and ordered 13,400 oxycodone tablets Project Below the Beltway was comprised of investigations in for dispensing from the clinic. 79 U.S. cities and several foreign cities within Central America, Between April 2010 and July 2012, undercover agents visited Europe, Mexico, South America and elsewhere. The investiga­ the clinic on multiple occasions. Law enforcement received a total tion resulted in 3,780 arrests, and the seizure of 6,100 kilograms of 55 prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodo­ of cocaine, 10,284 pounds methamphetamine, 1,619 pounds of ne, and other non-controlled substances. heroin, 349,304 pounds of marijuana, $148 million dollars in U.S. currency, and $38 million dollars in other assets. Operation Log Jam (2012) On July 26, 2012, DEA announced the culmination of Opera­ Juarez Drug Cartel Leader Sentenced to More Than tion Log Jam, resulting in the arrest of more than 90 individuals 10 Life Terms and the seizure of more than five million packets of designer syn­ In April 2012 the Juarez Drug Cartel’s leader in Juarez and thetic drugs, as well as $36 million in cash. This operation was a Chihuahua, Mexico pled guilty in El Paso, Texas, and was sen­ multi-agency operation with state and local law enforcement in tenced to life in prison for his participation in drug trafficking and more than 109 U.S. cities involved. Log Jam targeted every level numerous acts of violence. Jose Antonio Acosta-Hernandez, 34, of the synthetic designer drug industry, including retailers, whole­ aka “Diego,” “Dienton,” “Diez,” and “Bablazo” of Chihuahua, salers, and manufacturers. had been extradited to the United States from Mexico in March DEA Administrator Leonhart remarked, “Although tremen­ 2012. He pled guilty to four counts of racketeering, narcotics traf­ dous progress has been made in legislating and scheduling these ficking, and money laundering. dangerous substances, this enforcement action has disrupted the Acosta-Hernandez admitted that in approximately 2008, he entire illegal industry, from manufacturers to retailers. Together became the leader of La Linea’s armed enforcement wing and with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we are acted as the VCF’s plaza boss in Chihuahua and Juarez. Acos­ committed to targeting these new and emerging drugs with every ta-Hernandez admitted that he directed or participated in more scientific, legislative, and investigative tool at our disposal.” than 1,500 murders since 2008. Immediately after the guilty plea hearing, Acosta-Hernandez was sentenced to seven concurrent life Operation Adam Bomb (2012) terms, three additional consecutive life terms, and 20 years in fed­ On April 16, 2012, DEA announced the culmination of Op­ eral prison. eration Adam Bomb, a multi-national operation which resulted in the arrest of eight people who all face federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges due to their creation and operation of a “secret” on-line narcotics market place known as The Farmer’s Market which sold a variety of controlled substances to approxi­ mately 3,000 customers in 34 countries and 50 states. Also arrest­ ed were seven other individuals associated with the online market. At the time of their arrest, law enforcement seized hashish, LSD, MDMA, as well as an indoor psychotropic mushroom grow, and three indoor marijuana grows. The 12-count indictment charges that each of the defendants was a member of a conspiracy to distribute a variety of controlled substances world-wide through the use of on-line marketplaces that allowed independent sources of supply to anonymously ad­ vertise illegal drugs for sale to the public. Operators of the on-line marketplaces provided a controlled substances storefront, order forms, on-line forums, customer service, and payment methods for the different sources of supply. These marketplaces had mul­ tiple sources of supplies offering various controlled substances, in­ cluding LSD, MDMA, fentanyl, mescaline, ketamine, DMT, and marijuana. Between January 2007 and October 2009 alone, two defendants processed approximately 5,256 on-line orders for con­ trolled substances valued at approximately $1,041,244 via these on-line controlled substances marketplaces. Project Below the Beltway (2012) The December 6, 2012 culmination of Project Below the Belt­ way, a two-year series of investigations that targeted the Sinaloa Cartel, the Juarez Cartel, and other violent street gangs, was part

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